Javascript needs to be enabled to properly view this website

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTENT OR MEANING OF THIS AGENCY'S RULES?CLICK HERE TO ACCESS RULES COORDINATOR CONTACT INFORMATION

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

DIVISION 46

EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE
(EHA)

813-046-0000

Purpose and Objectives

OAR chapter 813, division 46, is promulgated
to accomplish the general purpose of ORS 458.505 and 458.600 to 458.650, and particularly
ORS 458.650, which designates the Housing and Community Services Department as the
state agency responsible for administering state and federal antipoverty programs
in Oregon. The Emergency Housing Assistance program addressed in this division is
one such program subject to department administration and has as its purpose the
funding of local homeless programs to assist low- and very-low-income homeless persons
and those persons who are at risk of becoming homeless, including, but not limited
to, veterans, persons more than 65 years of age, disabled persons, farmworkers and
Native Americans to attain housing stability.

All words and terms that are used in
OAR chapter 813, division 46 are defined in the Act, and in 813-005-0005 and 813-005-0015
and below. As used in OAR chapter 813, division 46, unless the context indicates
otherwise:

(4) “Community action
agency” or “CAA” means a private, nonprofit corporation organized
under ORS chapter 65, or an office, division or agency of a political subdivision
designated as a community action agency pursuant to the Economic Opportunity Act
of 1964 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which meets the requirements
outlined in ORS 458.505(4).

(5) “Conditional”
means subject to relevant conditions subsequent, including but not limited to continued
department authority and funding capacity as well as subgrantee agency, to the satisfaction
of the department, satisfying the terms of its funding application, maintaining
legal standing as a CAA, timely satisfying relevant program requirements, and executing
and recording (if required) relevant documents.

(6) “Department”
or “OHCS” means the Housing and Community Services Department for the
state of Oregon.

(7) “Director”
means the department director as appointed by the governor.

(8) “Funding agreement”
means that master grant agreement or other written agreement, together with all
incorporated documents and references, to be executed by and between the department
and subgrantee agency in form and substance satisfactory to the department as a
condition precedent for receipt of program funding from the department.

(9) "Funding application"
means the subgrantee agency's application to the department for a program grant.

(10) “HMIS” means
the Homeless Management Information System.

(11) "Homeless" means an
individual, family or household that lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime
residence in accordance with department categorical definitions. Categorical definitions
are contained in the program manual.

(12) "Household" means an
individual living alone, a family with or without children or a group of individuals
who are living together as one economic unit.

(13) "Household income" means
the total household income from all sources before taxes. Income under this definition
may be reduced by deductions allowed by the department in compliance with program
requirements. Income does not include assets or funds over which the applicant or
household has no control.

(14) “HUD” means
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(15) "Low-income household"
means a household with an annual household income that is more than fifty (50) percent
but at or below eighty (80) percent of the area median income based on HUD determined
guidelines as adjusted for family size.

(16) “Program”
or “EHA” means the Emergency Housing Assistance program administered
by the department pursuant to this division and other applicable law.

(17) “Program manual”
or “manual” means the Emergency Housing Assistance Program Operations
Manual as amended from time to time, incorporated herein by this reference. The
manual may be accessed online on the department’s website.

(21) "Service area" means
the specific geographic area or region within which a subgrantee agency provides
program services directly or by contract.

(22) "Subcontractor”
or “subrecipient” means a nonprofit corporation established under ORS
Chapter 65, a housing authority established under ORS 456.055 to 456.235, or local
government as defined in ORS 197.015, contracting with a subgrantee agency to provide
program services.

(23) "Subgrantee agency"
or “agency” means a private, nonprofit corporation organized under ORS
Chapter 65, a housing authority established under ORS 456.055 to 456.235, or a local
government as defined in ORS 197.015 with whom the department has contracted to
administer program services at the local level.

(24) “Sufficiency”
means that the quantity, thoroughness and quality of performance is satisfactory
to the department, including but not limited to providing relevant information in
a manner and to a degree for the department to assess appropriately subgrantee agency’s
compliance with relevant program requirements such as the provision of services
consistent with the terms of the funding agreement, state plan and other appropriate
standards, goals and requirements established by the department.

(25) "Work plan" or "plan"
means the subgrantee agency's plan for use of program funds as approved by the department,
which is part of its approved funding application, and included in its funding agreement
with the department.

(26) "Very-low income household"
means a household with an annual household income that is fifty (50) percent or
less of the area median income based on HUD determined guidelines, adjusted for
family size.

(27) “Veteran”
means a person who served in the U.S. Armed Forces with an honorable discharge or
is receiving a nonservice-connected pension from the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs as further defined in ORS 408.225 and the program manual.

(1) The department may contract with
subgrantee agencies to provide program services at the local level. In a service
area where a community action agency exists, the community action agency has a conditional
right of first refusal to serve as the subgrantee agency for the service area.

(2) The department normally
will allocate program funds to subgrantee agencies for the various service areas
through a formula established by the department prior to the allocation process.
However, the department reserves the right to modify such formula at any time in
its sole discretion.

(3) A subgrantee agency may
subcontract with other organizations that meet the requirements of ORS 458.505(4)
to provide program services in the subgrantee agency's service area.

(4) A subgrantee agency shall
identify potential applicants, certify eligibility and provide program services
to eligible households within its service area. Whenever appropriate, program participants
will be assisted in accessing other services designed to meet other, longer-term
needs.

(5) The department normally
will fund only one subgrantee agency within any service area. However, the department
may, in its sole discretion, allow two or more subgrantee agencies to operate within
a common service area. In such cases, the subgrantee agencies shall enter into a
written agreement with the department, satisfactory to the department in its sole
discretion, in order, inter alia, to ensure full access to program services for
all eligible households within the service area to the extent of available funding
and to prevent duplication of services.

(6)(a) A subgrantee agency
may expend up to an amount authorized by the department in writing for reimbursement
of reasonable and appropriate administrative costs.

(b) If a subgrantee agency
subcontracts with another organization to provide program services, that organization
may expend up to an amount for administrative costs that does not exceed the subgrantee
agency’s proportionate share of the amount authorized by the department for
reasonable and appropriate administrative costs of the funding award.

(c) The ultimate determination
of reasonable and appropriate administrative costs is reserved to the department
in its sole discretion.

(7) A subgrantee agency and
its subcontractors shall comply with the terms of the funding agreement and all
other program requirements, including but not limited to department directives (including
deficiency notices), applicable local, state and federal laws, rules (including
the program manual), regulations, executive orders, local ordinances and codes.

(1) Program services shall be available
to low income and very low income households including but not limited to veterans,
persons more than 65 years of age, persons with disabilities, farmworkers and Native
Americans that are homeless or at risk of being homeless and that are otherwise
eligible.

(2) A subgrantee agency may
consider a household’s self-declaration or referral of a household from local,
state or federal human service agencies if no other verifiable documentation is
available, to determine eligibility of that household for program services.

(3) Eligibility documentation
for veterans housing stabilization services must include service discharge papers
or DD214 identification document. Self-declaration of veteran status is not acceptable.

(4) A subgrantee agency will
not require residency within its service area or legal status as a client eligibility
criterion.

(1) Program funds will be used for homeless
and at-risk of homelessness services within the allowable program components and
activities as further defined in the funding agreement and program manual.

(2) Subgrantee agencies may
require all recipients of program services to participate in programs or activities
that will increase household self-sufficiency.

(3) Program funds granted
or otherwise awarded shall not be used by a subgrantee agency to replace funds currently
being received from other sources, available or reasonably expected to be available
to the subgrantee agency but may be used to supplement existing funds or to support
existing programs or establish new programs.

(1) Prior to providing any program services,
a subgrantee agency shall submit on a biennial basis, a funding application satisfactory
to the department, including a work plan, which must be approved by the department
before being operative. The subgrantee agency shall adhere to the department's requirements
and deadlines for obtaining approval of this funding application. A funding application
is subject to approval, including as modified by the department, or disapproval
by the department.

(2) A subgrantee agency's
funding application shall include details satisfactory to the department on how
the subgrantee agency provided a meaningful opportunity for participation in the
development of the work plan by the local or regional continuum of care, local service
providers, advocates, clients, businesses, churches, citizens, governments, and
other interested stakeholders.

(3) A subgrantee agency's
funding application must meet all requirements established by the department for
the form and content of the funding application. In cases where a community action
agency has the conditional right of first refusal for antipoverty program administration,
and the community action agency cannot meet the requirements for the form and content
of the funding application, the department in its sole discretion, may allow other
eligible organizations to submit a funding application with respect to that service
area.

(4) Funding applications
will be evaluated by the department for sufficiency with respect to application
and other program requirements.

(1) Subgrantee agencies shall maintain
accurate financial records satisfactory to the department, which document, inter
alia, the receipt and disbursement of all funds provided through the program by
the department; and have an accounting system in place satisfactory to the department,
which meets, inter alia, generally accepted accounting principles.

(2) Subgrantee agencies also
shall maintain other program records satisfactory to the department, which document,
inter alia, client eligibility, receipt of allowable program services, termination
of services and the basis for same, housing status of clients, administrative actions,
contracts with subcontractors, review of subcontractor performance, action taken
with respect to deficiency notices, and any administrative review proceedings. Such
records shall be in substance and format satisfactory to the department.

(a) Program reports detailing
the progress made toward meeting program performance measures and service delivery
objective(s), and

(b) Fiscal reports detailing
all administrative and program costs;

(4)(a) Subgrantee agencies
and their subcontractors shall furnish representatives of the department, the Oregon
Secretary of State's Office, the federal government, and their duly authorized representatives’
access to and permit copying of all books, accounts, documents, records and allow
reasonable access to the project and other property pertaining to the program, at
any such representative’s request.

(b) Subgrantee agencies and
their subcontractors shall cooperate fully in any inspections or other monitoring
actions taken by the department, the Oregon Secretary of State's Office, the federal
government, and their duly authorized representatives.

(c) Subgrantee agencies and
their subcontractors shall retain and keep accessible all program records for a
minimum of five (5) years, or such longer period as may be required by applicable
law and state records retention requirements, following final payment and termination
of program involvement, or until the conclusion of any audit, controversy or litigation
arising out of or related to the program, whichever date is later.

(5) Subgrantee agencies shall
ensure that data is reported, collected and organized accurately, timely, and otherwise
in a manner satisfactory to the department through the use of a department-approved
HMIS.

(1) The department will conduct reviews,
audits and other compliance monitoring as it deems appropriate with respect to each
subgrantee agency and its subcontractors, inter alia, to verify compliance with
program requirements. Subgrantee agencies and their subcontractors will cooperate
fully with the department in its compliance monitoring.

(2) Subgrantee agencies shall
require by contract and monitor their subcontractors’ compliance with all
program requirements including but not limited to, recordkeeping and retention of
records and department compliance monitoring and enforcement.

(3)(a) The department may
take such remedial action as it deems appropriate including, but not limited to
terminating its funding agreement with a subgrantee agency and requiring repayment
of partial or all program funding, if it determines (in its sole discretion) that
the performance of the subgrantee agency or any of its subcontractors is deficient
in any manner, including with respect to program requirements.

(b) The department will notify
a subgrantee agency of deficiencies identified through the monitoring process and
provide documentation for the basis of such determination and the specific deficiency
or deficiencies that must be corrected.

(c) The department will require
the subgrantee to correct any deficiencies in a manner and timeframe satisfactory
to the department and may offer training and technical assistance to the subgrantee.

(d) The department, at its
discretion, may offer the subgrantee agency assistance in the development of a corrective
action plan. If a corrective action plan is allowed, the department will review
and issue a decision on whether to approve or disapprove.

(4) The department will provide
adequate notice and opportunity for an appeal prior to a remedial action that terminates
organizational eligibility for program funding for cause.

(5) Appeals will be addressed
to the assistant director or their designee whose decision may be further appealed
to the department director.

(6) Issuance of a deficiency
notice shall not constitute a waiver of other remedies available to the department
or preclude the department from exercising such other remedies available to it under
the funding agreement or other program requirements, at law or otherwise.

(1) Local interest groups, service providers
or others aggrieved by a subgrantee agency with respect to its program obligations
may submit a written request to the department for its review of such contested
action, but only after first exhausting the applicable administrative review process
furnished by the relevant subgrantee agency and within thirty (30) days of that
administrative review determination or refusal by the subgrantee agency to provide
such administrative review determination.

(2) The department may accept
or deny a request for its review in whole or in part, at its sole discretion. Any
department review will be in the manner determined appropriate by the department
and may include, but will not necessarily be limited to review of provided information.

(3) If the department accepts
the review request, the requester of the review, the subgrantee agency, and relevant
subcontractors will produce all information required by the department, including
requested affidavits or testimony.

(4) The department may make
a determination on a review request and require such remedial action as the department
determines, in its sole discretion, to be appropriate.

(5) Department review will
not take the form of a contested case review under ORS chapter 183 unless specifically
so stated by the director in writing.

(6) Timely request for department
review by an aggrieved person or entity and its completion to final order by the
department are requirements for exhaustion of administrative remedies by such aggrieved
person or entity.

(1) Subgrantee agencies will establish
in writing a process satisfactory to the department that in a timely manner, enables
beneficiaries of and applicants for program services to contest a determination
by the subgrantee agency or its subcontractors that:

(a) Denies or limits the
eligibility of a beneficiary or applicant for benefits or other assistance; or

(b) Terminates or modifies
benefits or other assistance awarded by the subgrantee agency or subcontractor to
a beneficiary.

(2) Persons aggrieved by
the action of a subgrantee agency or its subcontractors described in subsection
(1) may request administrative review of such action by the subgrantee agency within
the time frame and pursuant to the process established by the subgrantee agency
consistent with program requirements. At all times, the subgrantee agency will allow
a minimum of thirty (30) days within which an aggrieved person may request review
from the time of the contested action or the aggrieved person’s reasonable
discovery of such action, whichever is longer.

(3) The subgrantee agency
will inform the department in writing of any request by an aggrieved party for administrative
review within ten (10) days of such request.

(4) The subgrantee agency
will inform the department and the aggrieved party in writing of any final administrative
review determination made by the subgrantee agency, and the basis for same, within
ten (10) days of such final determination.

The official copy of an Oregon Administrative Rule is
contained in the Administrative Order filed at the Archives Division,
800 Summer St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97310. Any discrepancies with the
published version are satisfied in favor of the Administrative Order.
The Oregon Administrative Rules and the Oregon Bulletin are
copyrighted by the Oregon Secretary of State. Terms
and Conditions of Use